Liberation Theology

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Liberation Theology

Liberation theology emerged in Latin America in the second half of the 20th century. The competition between capitalism and communism was played out, often violently, in the states of Latin America.

Exploitation of workers

Using a Marxist analysis of capitalism, liberation theology argues that workers are alienated and so exploited. It argues that a capitalist system sacrifices the needs of the many for the benefit of the few.
This social sin results in poverty for many people and creates a society where violence and injustice thrive as a result of the structure of that society.

Criticism: capitalist institutions

The theory argues that any institution that supports this structure should be criticised for enabling the exploitation of the poor.
This includes governments that focus on creating tax systems that benefit corporations and schools that focus on training people to be effective economic workers.
Liberation theology also criticises the church for quietly condoning and not challenging this injustice through its encouragement of people to be obedient and peaceful.

Câmara on the church

As Dom Hélder Câmara said, ‘When I give food to the poor they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.’
Câmara’s point is to argue that the church only focussed on the ‘saintly’ business of feeding the poor when it ought to have been challenging the injustices that created such poverty.
In turn, schools should not just inform the next generation but teach people how to interpret and reform power structures in society

The ‘Preferential Option for the Poor’

The ‘preferential option for the poor’ was a phrase used by liberation theologians to point out what they saw as a key theme in the teachings of Jesus - that of concern for the poor and the outcast.

Parable of the Sheep & Goats

As the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats puts it, ‘whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)
This idea is important because it helps liberation theology to combat the charge that it relies too heavily on an atheistic analysis (Marxism).

Parables: concern for the poor

Other examples of this idea in the Gospel are found in:
- The Song of Mary – ‘he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away’ (Luke 1:46-55)
- The Beatitudes – ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ (Matthew 5)
- Jesus quoting Isaiah – ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.’ (Luke 4:18-19)

Prioritise the needs of the poor

So liberation theology argues that Christians must put the needs of the poor before the needs of others.
They must act to change the situation and bring poverty and injustice to an end, not just by providing for the poor, but by challenging the societal structures that cause poverty.

Orthopraxy > orthodoxy

In this way, liberation theology argues that acting justly to help the poor is the key priority for Christians.
This right action (orthopraxy) is prioritised over right thinking/right belief (orthodoxy).

Tradition vs liberation theology

The traditional model is to be trained in official Church teaching and then translate this into action (orthodoxy leading to orthopraxy).
But liberation theology argues that theology should begin with the reality of people’s lives and seeking to act justly. So orthopraxy comes first and, from this, orthodoxy will emerge.